Convertible shelf and table



'(No 1560181, 2 Sheets-Shea? 2.

A. J. 8v J. JAM'ESON. CONVERTIBLE SHELF AND TABLE.

'No. 554,187 Patented Feb. 4, 1896.

NITED STATES ATENT rricn.

ANTHONY J. JAMESON AND JOSEPH JAMESON, OF BRYAN, OHIO.

CONVERTIBLE SHELF AND TABLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 554,187, dated February 4, 1896. Application filed June 5, 1895. Serial No. 551,739. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, ANTHONY J. JAMEsoN and JOSEPH J AMESON, of Bryan, in the county of Williams and State of Ohio, have in vented certain new and useful Improvements in Convertible Shelves and Tables; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

This invention relates to improvements in that class of structures capable of being converted at will into a set of vertically-arran ged or step'shelves or a horizontal table.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple, strong and efficient structure of neat and ornamental design; and the invention consists in certain novel details of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts all as will be now described and pointed out particularly in the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a structure constructed in accordance with our invention. Fig. 2 is a similar view with the shelves extended in the form of a table. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the central or fixed shelf. Fig. 4 is a bottom plan of the central orfixed shelf with the side frames in section.

Like letters of reference in the several figures denote the same parts.

In this class of shelves a suitable frame A is provided of any suitable style, but preferably having simple end uprights With diagonal braces, such as R, on one side only. The height of the frame A should be approximately that of a table, and in our present structure a shelf 0 is rigidly fixed at the top of the frame, preferably by brackets P, so as to leave narrow open spaces between the ends of the shelf and sides of the frame. Pivoted in these spaces in front and rear are the uprights or end bars D. The bars at the front are pivoted in plane above the pivots of the rear bars, so that while they both turn in the same vertical plane still they may both be turned into horizontal position, as shown in Fig. 2, where it will be seen that when horizontal they are parallel and one of each pair above the other.

The bars D are preferably iron, rectangular in cross-section, and to the end of each of the shelves C there is secured an a1igle-iron E, the forward end of each angle-iron being pivotally connected with the bars at the front, and the downwardly-extending arm of each iron being connected to the rear bars. The length of the downwardlyextending arms of the angle-irons should be sufficient to allow the end bars to turn down to horizontal position Without striking each other and Without striking or interfering with the locking 1nechanism on the fixed shelf.

By securing one of the angle-irons to the stationary shelf it forms the pivotal support for all the other shelves, and besides dispensing with the necessity of providing special pivots for the end bars such arrangement insures the regular and uniform spacing of the bars, so that the shelves will fold down smoothly.

For locking the shelves in any position of adjustment the end bars at the front are provided with pivoted notched braces F, adapted to co-operate with pins I on the inside of the cross-pieces B at the top of the frame. These braces may, of course, be operated by hand; but we prefer to pivot controllers G H on the bottom of the fixed shelf, Fig. 4, which embrace the braces, and when moved in one direction or the other throw said braces into or out of engagement with the pins. The controllers are connected for simultaneous operation by a rod L, and a spring 0 on the rod and compressed between collar N on the rod and a fixed stop M, serves to hold the braces in engagement with the pins. If desired the controller G may be provided with a handle G projecting through a slot G in the crosspiece B in convenient position to be grasped.

A turn-button Q may be employed to hold the shelves in horizontal position should it be desired to have them remain extended in table form.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new is- 1. The combination with a series of shelves having angular end pieces and pairs of bars at each end of the shelves pivotally connected to the ends of said angular end pieces, the IOO pivots of the front bars being above the level of the pivots of the rear bars, of a stand or frame having uprights extending up outside of the end bars, and brackets located between the bars and connecting one of the shelves and the upright of the'stand or frame; substantially as described.

2. The combination With'the frame or stand, the pivoted end bars and the series of shelves pivotally connected with said bars, of the fixed shelf, the locking-braces for the bars and the controllers for the braces pivoted on the under side of the fixed shelf; substan tially as described.

3. The combination with the frame or stand, the pivoted end bars, the series of shelves pivotally connected with said bars the fixed shelf, and the=locking-bracesfor the bars, of the controllers for the braces pivoted on the under side of the fixed shelf the rod connecting said. controllers for simultaneous operation and the spring for holding the braces in locking position; substantially as described.

ANTHONY J. JAMESON. JOSEPH J AMESON. 'XVitnesses JOHN M. KILLIT, CHAS. T. LA Gosr. 

